Information Regarding Boat Ignition Starter Switches

 

Boat ignition switches are extremely robust, well built, and perform exceptional well for a very long time. Like in cars and trucks, an ignition switch activates the ignition system of your boat by connecting it to the source of power. Unfortunately, on occasion they do break down or quit working altogether. Ignition switch failure can happen for several reasons and if the cause is not as simple as a worn-out from normal use, it is important to trouble shoot the cause first to prevent the replacement switch from falling victim to the cause and destroying it prematurely. Finding a replacement switch should not be difficult. There are many types of aftermarket replacement ignition switches available especially for the legacy engine harnesses from reputable manufacturers such as ‘Sierra®’, ‘Cole-Hersee®’, or ‘Sea-Dog®’. Note, some ignition switches do not always come with a key, sometimes switches are a push or pull type of switch.

 

Positions of Ignition Switches

Number of positions - refers to the number of options the key start has. The most common boat switches are 3 and 4-position. A 3-position switch might have Off- Ignition-Start, or Off-Run-Start or Off-Start-Choke. A 4-position switch might be Accessory-Off-Ignition-Start-Choke (Push to Choke). Additional positions can be used for powering various parts of the boat and auxiliary systems which can be powered even when the engine is not running. For instance, a typical four-position switch features the Accessory, Off, On, and Start modes.

 

Ignition Switch Selection

 

It is important to famliarize yourself with what switch your boat needs or currently has in order to choose the correct replacement ignition switch. Some other considerations besides number of positions is the screw terminal. Screw terminal - refers to number of connections on the back of the switch that will be screwed into the dashboard system on your boat.

 

Kill Switches

 

A boat ignition switch replacement is not difficult, but one must remember that the replacement process is working with electricity and proper care must be taken to avoid injury or damage. Some ignition switches incorporate a safety kill switch function where one end of a lanyard is connected to the operator with the other end clipped into the switch with some type of pin. This great feature is standard on many watercraft and is worth considering if not originally installed as it is intended to shut the engine down in the event of the operator falling out of the boat or away from the helm.

 

If an ignition switch is not readily available off the shelf such is the case for some modern engine harnesses that incorporate computer controls, it might help choose from our engine parts finder tool to make finding the correct replacement easier or call 800-998 –9508 anytime from Monday to Friday for additional help.

 

To gain access to the ignition switch might require removing the dash panel. If this is the case then it might be prudent to inspect other switches located on the panel and take the opportunity to replace them in kind or upgrade them to a lighted rocker switch. A substantial selection of replacement switches and plugs for dash panels or other applications such as light fixtures, horns is also available.

 

Damage to the ignition module if often the result of a faulty ignition switch. This is caused by the ignition switch passing current to the ignition module even when the switch is in the off position. If a replacement ignition module is required there are options other than the original manufacturers replacement available. These aftermarket ignition modules are easy to install, do not require any additional setup and are extremely reliable.